Spathiphyllum plant named Max

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plant named Max, characterized by its large leaves that are upright, glossy and dark green in color; large plants suitable for large containers; strong and vigorous growth habit; numerous large flowers held just above the foliage on strong and erect peduncles; and large, pure white, flat spathes and long spadices.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant, botanically known as Spathiphyllum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Max.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned and controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor in Merelbeke, Belgium. The newcultivar originated from a deliberate cross by the inventor between theSpathiphyllum cultivar Sensation (not patented) as the female or seedparent and the Spathiphyllum cultivar Daniel (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.P.P. 8,655) as the male or pollen parent. The cultivar Max wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in a controlled environment in Merelbeke, Belgium.

Asexual propagation, by division, of the new cultivar at Merelbeke,Belgium, has shown that the unique features of this new Spathiphyllumplant are stabilized and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

The new Spathiphyllum has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Kwintsheul, TheNetherlands in 21-cm containers in a glass greenhouse with an averageday temperaure of 22 C., and average night temperature of 20 C., and alight level of 200 to 225 lux.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Max. These characteristics incombination distinguish Max as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large leaves that are upright, glossy and dark green in color.

2. Large plants suitable for large containers, strong aand vigorousgrowth habit.

3. Numerous large flowers held just above the foliage on strong anderect peduncles.

4. Large, pure white, flat spathes and long spadices.

The new Spathiphyllum can be compared to its seed parent cultivar, thecultivar Sensation, and is different from the cultivar Sensation in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the cultivar Max are shorter than plants of the cultivarSensation.

2. Mature leaves of plants of the cultivar Max are glossier, darkergreen, more narrow and smaller than mature leaves of plants of thecultivar Sensation.

3. Leaves of plants of the cultivar Max have shorter Petioels thanplants of the cultivar Sensation.

4. Plants of the cultivar Max flower have smaller flowers than plants ofthe cultivar Sensation.

5. Plants of the cultivar Max have shorter flower peduncles than plantsof the cultivar Sensation and flowers on plants of the cultivar Max arepositioned just above the foliage whereas flowers on plants of thecultivar Sensation are positioned much higher above the foliage.

The new Spathiphyllum can be compared to its pollen parent cultivar, thecultivar Daniel, and is different from the cultivar Daniel in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the cultivar Max are taller and more vigorous than plantsof the cultivar Daniel. 2. Leaves of plants of the cultivar Max arelarger and darker green than leaves of the cultivar Daniel.

3. Leaves of plants of the cultivar Max have an entire margin whereasleaf margins on plants of the cultivar Daniel are slightly toothed.

4. Plants of the cultivar Max have larger flowers than plants of thecultivar Daniel.

The accompaning colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance ofthe new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of Max.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum cultivar Max.

Parentage:

Seed or female parent.--Spathiphyllum cultivar Sensation.

Pollen or male parent.--Spathiphyllum cultivar Daniel (U.S. Pat. No.P.P. 8,655).

Propagation: By divisions or by tissue culture.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Upright, inverted triangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as leavesdevelop. Large plants, appropriate for 21-cm containers.

Plant height.--90 to 115 cm from soil level to top of leaf plane.

Plant vigor.--Rapid growth rate, vigorous.

Crop time.--Ten months are usually required from planting of a youngplant to a finished 21-cm container.

Rooting habit.--Freely branching, numerous fleshy roots with finerlateral roots.

Foliage description.--Leaf shape: Young: Narrowly elliptic Mature:Elliptic. Leaf length: About 50 cm. Leaf width: About 21 cm. Margin:Entire. Leaf surface: Flat. Leaf tip: Acuminate. Leaf base: Obtuse. Leafaspect: Mature leaves held upright and outward at a 110 to 120° angle topetiole. Leaf texture: Leathery, smooth, glabrous. Leaf color: Young,top side: 144A, glossy. Young, under side: 146D. Mature, top side: 147A,glossy. Mature, under side: 137B. Petiole length, primary shoot: 60 to75 cm. Petiole diameter, primary shoot, just below geniculum: About 10mm.Geniculum diameter, primary shoots: About 11 mm. Petiole wing,primary shoots: Apparent on lower 90% of mature leaf petiole. Petiolecolor: Young: 144A. Mature: Winged area: 147A. Above winged area: 137C.Geniculum: 144A. Venation: Top side: 147A, sunken. Under side: 144A,prominent.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement.--Large flat spathe with spadix held just above thefoliage. Numerous flowers arise from leaf axils.

Spathe.--Shape: Elliptic. Size: Length: About 26 cm. Width: About 10 cm.Aspect: After unrolled, spathe is flat. Coor: Before unrolling: Yellowwhite (8D). Open flower: White (155D) and shiny, spathe becomes greenwith age.

Spadix.--Size: Length: About 10.5 cm. Diameter: About 15 mm. Color:Initially yellow white (8D), becoming more yellow (8C) and eventuallygreen with age.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong and erect. Size: Length: 95 to 120 cm.Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Young: 144D. Mature: 147A.

Disease resistance: No known Spathiphyllum diseases observed to date onplants grown under commecial greenhouse conditions.

Seed development: Seed development is rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plantnamed Max, as illustrated and described.